Automobile.



PATBNTBD .TUNE 9, 1908. G. A. WEIDBLY. AUTUMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1907.

EEiOE.

GEORGE A. w'EiDELY,

OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIA'A, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I HAROLD o. sMrTi-i,or iNDiANAPOLis, INDIANA! AUTOMOBILE.

Application led June 1, 1907. Serial No. igifllt"V j p T all :whom itmay concern."l

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. WEIDELY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobiles, of

which the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of automobiles ithas heretofore been customary tomount the driving shafts in an inclosing axle casing which supports thesprings upon which the seat-or other frame issupported. Probably the.earliest constructioiiis that in which each shaft section is journaledin two bearings, one near the inner end and `onenear the outer end thecarrying wheel being attached'to the outer projected end of the drivingshaft. Such an arrangement causes the weight of the l' carriage to 4becarried directly by the driving v20 shaft sections and siderableoverhang or distance between the v "traction plane of the wheel and thevertical very plane ofthe adjacent bearing, so that side thrusts tendingat the rims4 ofthewheels are severe upon thebearings .and shafts.

` A nother common method hasbeen to project the axle considerably-beyondthe springs and provide such projecting ends with bearings -u on whichjourn'a ed, the driving shaft .in such case vbeingvmerely by a clutchand the entire weight of.. the structure being sup orted directly bylthe wheels andnot at a lpby the Hoa-ting driving shaft.` sections. Insuchv construction the wheel hub must be of considerable size, whichl isconsidered' objectionable, and the clutch between the,l shaft and wheelis necessarily of suchcharacter (because of commercial limitation of'size) that itsv inter-engaging members. are A coinparatii'fely small andconsequently frail; And, while two bearings may .be provided for eachwheel, they can not be moi'efthan six or eight inches apart and,consequently, side thrusts exerted at the circumference ofthe wheelexert a veryg tat lever-A age upon the bearings so closetogether.

j The object of my present invention is to produce a structure. whereinthe rigidity of ythe Adriving shaft, with its widely separatedbearings,l may be retained toresist lateral stresses in the wheelswhileat the same time only a portion 'of the weight 'of the vehicle iscarried directly 'by the shaft'while the .main

portion of said weight is carried directly by ithe carrying wheels',`lthe arrangement being Specification of Letters Patent: Pat

. invention: Flgure. lfjis a' ver thereis necessarily a conthe drivingwheels arev support the inner ends connected with the driving wheelentediiliunesQj 9108.,

preferably suoli th heo ing is 'carried by both theidrivlng sh t anytlie wheel hub. If desired,this'bearinggmayf ,arranged very close to.,or-.s tantially in, the vertical plane-ofthe car'r I gjwh el Theaccompanying,drawingsil strate .my 'tlcalsction of the middle .and one.,end 'y "f a^liollowaxle structure embodyingmy'iigiv tio F ig. 2 is asection on line 2i-Zr of lifigfi gfligf a perspec'tive detail oftheinneri the wheel hub; Fig. 4 a simil-'rv detailiofgtheduter end of one oftheshaft' sectioiaiandjhigf 5ft; section of a modification whereinthewheelhub is so formed as kto place'thefad `nt bearing substantially in theplaneof t c i In the drawngsjo" axle casing having j 7 ment '11adaptedtojrec way of a'ball-bearing 1,2 l r j l casing 10 Iprovide'fapair of bearings 13,13 in which is journaledanyfdesiifableform of compensating geari lf4 l\'foun'-tiei rea'ch end of the casingIOisa-sliaftsection l end of which is `j'iolygonal'in cross-sectionso asto fit snuglyin .the c "riglopening of the compensatin gear 14 wellknown 4ifnann i.V understood thatthjebe and the compensating g innerends of the shaft sectl with independent bearings'rwity t" departingfrommy invention fllieouter endof the shaft section 15is dediat to receivethe usual retaining lnu "IS'aindjimmediately adjacent the portion j Eisawlieeli'receiving portion 19, prefeiblyj"tapfere ately adjacent .theportion' 145ih 'h'e shaft 15 jecting clutch t'eethZUthe surfaces of theends 20 4of which are ed t'oafti eicircle and at` their inner ends'teriiiiriat yTal radial projecting flange fofglip 20?( tual practice, inlorder t'offsecuregriiaxim in strength ivw rif at a minimum costofjproduction, I ,believe that it vwillloeadvisable to forgeA'a'continuous Clearly fsliofwniin Fig. I

v The diameter of the surface 20 is equal to the inner diameter' of theinner ring or raceway of the bearing 1-2 and is adapted to reeeive thesame, as clearly shown inv Fig. 1,

.so that said inner race-way is stifl'ened b the the Wheel is severalinches beyond oroutsideof the plane of the adjacent bearing l2 while inF ig. 5 the planes of'the bearing and vof the wheel -are substantiallycoincident. VIn

either case any twisting or transverse strains at the wheel rim aretransmitted through theprojectlon 22 and teeth 23 of the'whecl hubdirectly to the bearing 12 but at ille same time those .stresses arealso transmitted to the shaft section. 15, upon which the wheel ismounted and consequently the bearing 1-2 is reinforced. by the bearing18'which may be a very considerable distance, as much as twenty-fourinches, from the bearing 12. As a consequence I secure by thisconstruction not only widely separated bearings for- -the shaft but aportionof .theload andstresses are transmitted directly fromthe wheel tothe adjacent bearing, anda driving connection of maximumfstrength ispossible between the driving shaft and wheel without any consequent.enlargement in diameters, thus producingv a wheel ofthe highestelliciency.

I claim as my invention;

1. In a motor'vehicle, 'the combination,

with the drivingshaft, of -acarrying wheel A mounted upon said shaft andhaving a rota tive-engagement'therewith, of ay bearing en-V gaging boththe shaft and wheel,l and a second bearing for said' shaft.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a carrying wheel', a drivingshaft rigidly connected thereto', 'a bearing engaging the hub of the'wheel and capable of resisting angular displaceinent of the wheel fromits normal plane, `and a bearing for a distant point of l the shaft.

3. Ina motor vehicle, the combination of a'carryingl wheel, a drivingshaft having 4a driving connection therewith and taking' lateralstresses therefrom va bearing engawinfr h h b l.

' the hub ofthe wheel and capable of resisting angular displacement ofthe wheel from its normal plane, and a bearing for a distant pointof theshaft.

4. In a motor vehicle, the combination of acarrying wheel, fr s'haftrigidly connected thereto, ca beaiing engaging the .hub of 4the Wheeland capable of resisting angular displacementof the wheel from itsnormal plane, and a bearing for a distant point of the shaft.

5. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a carrying wheel, a shafthaving a drivin connection therewith and' ,taking latera 'stressestherefrom, a bearin engaging the hub of the wheel and ca a le ofresisting angular displacement of t e ,Wheel from its. normal plane, anda bearing for adistant point'of the shaft.

6. Ina motor vehicle, the combination, of a pair .of driving shaftsections, a driving connection between the adjacent ends thereof,bearings su )porting said adjacent ends, la carrying whee rigidlyattached to the outer .end of each shaft section, and a bearing en'gaging thecarrying wheel and capable of resisting angular displacementof the wheel from its normal plane.

7. Ina motor vehicle, the combination, of a pair'of driving shaftsections, a driving'con- .nection 'between' the adjacent ends thereof,bearings supporting said vadjacent ends, a vcarrying Wheel rotativelyconnected to the outer end of each shaft section and laterally bracedthereby, vand a bearing engaging the carrying wheel and ca )able ofresisting angie lar displacement of t e vwheel fronrits nor- 8. lIn amotor vehicle, the combination, of a pair of .driving shaft sections, adriving connection between the adjacent ends thereof,

bearings supporting said adjacent ends, a

carrying wheel rigidlyattached to the outer end of cach shaft section',and a bearing engaging both the wheelandshaft near the outer end of theshaft.-

9. In a motor vehicle, the combination, of a pair of driving shaftsections, a driving connection between-the adjacent ends thereof,bearings supporting said adjacent. ends, a carrying wheel rotativelyconnected to the outer end of each shaftsection and laterally bracedthereby, and a bearing engaging both the wheel and shaft near thefou'terend .of the. shaft.

10.- In a motor vehicle, the' combination, with a suitable axle casing,of a pair of shaft' sections mounted insaid casing, a driving connectionbetween the adjacent ends of said shaft sections, bearings' in saidcasing for supporting the inner ends of said shaft sec tions, clutchteeth carrie-dl by* the shaft scction near its outer end, abearingbetween said clutch teeth and the casing, and a carrying Wheelattached to the outer endiof the shaft and havin; clutch teethmeshed.with the clutch teeth of the shaftsection and engaging the bearing.

11. In a motor vehicle, the combination `with a suitable abile. casing,of a shaft journaled therein and provided near its outer end witha'series of 'radial clutch teeth, a Wheel mounted on the end of said shaftand pro-'13o vided with a hub having a series of clutch teeth adaptedtomesh with the clutch teeth of the shaft, and albearing between the axlecasing and the wheel;

12. In a motor vehicle, the combination,

with a suitable axle casing, of a shaft journaled therein and providednear its'outer end wlth a series of radial clutch teeth, a wheel imountedson the end of said shaft and pro.-

vided with a hub having aseries'of clutch teeth adapted to mesh with theclutch teeth of the shaft, and a bearing arranged between the axlecasing and the interengaging clutch teeth of the wheel and shaft.

13. In a motor vehicle, the combination,

with a suitable axle casing, of apair. of shaft sections mounted in saidcasing', ,a driving connection between the adjacent` ends of said shaftsections, bearings ln-said casmgs for supporting the inner end s of saidshaft sections, a traction wheel mounted upon the outer end of eachshaft section to rotate therewith and be transverselystiffened thereby,and a bearing mounted in the outer endA section, a traction wheelsecuredto the outer end of'each shaft section and provided with angularlyseparated clutch` teeth axially meshing with the-clutch teeth of theshaft section, va bearing ring mounted upon said meshing clutch teeth,.a bearing mounted within the outer end of the axle casing and coper-lating with said lbearing ring, and means for holding said bearing` ringagainst axial displacement on the shaft section.

15. In ametor vehicle, the combination, with a suitable axle casing, ofa pair Vof shaft sections mounted therein, a differential connecting theadjacent ends of said shaft sections, bearings for said differential in,said casing, angularly sup orted clutch teeth near the outer end of eachshaft section,- a tractioniwheel securedvto the. outer end of each shaftsection and provided vwith angularly separated clutch teethaxiallymeshing'with the clutch teeth of the shaft section, a bearing ringmounted upon said meshing clutch teeth, a bearing mounted within theouter end of the axle casing and cooperating with said bearing ring, andmeans for holding said bearing ring against axial displacement on theshaft section.

16. In a motor vehicle, the combination,l

with a suitable axle casing, of a pair of shaft sections mounted thereinand supported by angularly supported suitable bearings'at their innerends, a differential connecting the adjacent ends of said shaftsections, angularly supported clutch teeth near the outer end of'eachshaft see# ti'on,'a traction wheel secured to the outer end of veachshaft'section and provider-l'with angularly meshing with the clutchteeth of the shaft section, a bearing ring mounted upon said meshingclutch teeth, a`A bearing vmounted within the outer end of the axlecasing and cooperating4 with said hearingring, anda air of shoulders'oneformed on 'the wheel hub and the other formed on the shaft sectionbetween which said bearing ring is held.

17. In a motor vehicle, the combination, with asuitable axle casing,"ofa pairl of 'shaft sections mounted thereinfa differential connecting theadjacent ends of said'shaft sections; bearings for said differential insaid casing, angularly separated clutch teeth'ncar the outer endof eachshaft section, a traction wheel-secured to the outer end of each shaftsection and provided with angularly sepa-l rated clutch teeth axiallymeshing with the teeth of -the 'shaft section, a bearing-ring mountedupon said meshing clutch teeth,' 'a bearing mounted within the outer endof the axle casing and cooperating with said bearing ring, and a pair ofshoulders oneformed on the wheel hubjand the otherformed on the shaftsection between which said. bearing' rmg 1s held.

18. In a motor vehicle, the eombma'tion.,

with a suitable axle casing, ofI a pair of shaft sections mounted insaidxca'sing, a driving connection betweentheadjacent ends of said shaftsections, bearings'in said casings for supporting the inner ends of saidshaft sections, a traction wheelmounted upon the outer end of-ea-chshaft section rotate theree with and be .transversely stiffenedthereby, and a bea-ring mounted in the outer end of the casing sectionand held against axial displacement, said bearing having a memberengaged by a wheeland shaft section, 4said wheel-engagingbearing lyingsubstantially in the vertical plane of 'the wheel. j. l j

19. In'a motor vehicle, the combination, with a suitable axle easing, ofa pair of shaft sections mounted therein and supportedA by suitablebearings at their inner ends, a

differential connecting the adjacent 4ends of said shaft sections,angularly supported clutch teeth near the outer end of each shaftsection, a traction wheel'seeured to the outer lend'of each shaftsection and provided with -angularly separated clutch teeth axiallymeshing with the clutch .teeth of the shaft section, a bearing ringmounted upon said meshing clutch teeth, a bearing mounted within theouter end of the axleI casing and cooperating with vsaid bearing ring,and

separated clutch teeth axially thrust vmember carried by the means forholding said bearing-ring against axial displacement on the shaftsection, said wheel-engaging-hearing l' \fing substantially in the1vertical'plane of the Wheel.

20. in ,a inotor Vehicle, the combination, 'with e suitable axle easing,ot a pair of shaft see-tions mounted therein, a differential eonneetingthe adjacent ends ofsaid shaft see hearing ring mounted upon saidmeshing clutch teeth, a hearing mounted within the outer end of the axleeasing and cooperating; Wi th said hearing ring, and nie ens Jforholding,- said bearing ring against axial displacement on theshaftseetioin said wheel-engaginghearing lying substantially in thevertical planeet the wheel.

21. ln a inotor vehicle, the conil'iination, with u suitable axleeasing, of e pair ol.l shaft eeetions mounted'therein and supported bysuite-ble bearings at their inner ends. a dit lerential connecting theadjacent ends of said sections7 angulerly support-ed clutch teeth nearthe outer end'of eac-h shaft seetion, a. tract-ion Wheel seeurethto theouter end of .each sha-tt section and provided 'with singularlyseparated clutch teeth axially meshing with the cluteh teeth oi"thenshai't section,4 a bearing ring' mounted upon said meshing clutchteeth, abearing mounted Within the outer end ol. the axle casing andcooperating with said hearing ring, and a` pair of shoulders one formedon thewlieel huh and the other termed on the shaft section between whichsaid hearing ring is held7 said wheel-engaging-hearing lyingsubstantially in the vertical plane ot e wheel. y

22. ln a inotor vehie the combination, with a suitable axle easing, of apair oi" shaft sections mounted therein, a differential eonneeting` t-headjacent ends of said shaft sections, bearings t'or said dill'erentialin. said casing, angularly separated eluteh teeth near the outer end ofeac-h shaft section,` a, traction Wheel secured -to the outer end ofeach shaftsection and provided with aiigularly sepa.- rated eluteh teethaxially meshingl with the teeth oi' the shaft see-tion, a hearing ringmounted upon said meshing' clutch teeth,` a hearing mounted Within theouter end of the axle cva-sing and cooperating with. said bearingl ring,and a pair of shoulders one formed on the Wheel huh andthe other 'formedon the shaft section between which said bearing ring is held, saidwheel-engaging-bearing lving` substantially in the-vertical plone of theWheel. f

In witness whereof, l, have hereunto set niy hand and seal atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 28th da;v of May, A. l).- one thousand ninehundred and seven.

GEORGE A. YEIDELY. [L s.] Vitnesses 'ARTHUR M. "Hoon,

THOMAS lV. l\/l' n\i[i-1fn\1s.-

